Safety closures for containers



NOV. 26, 1968 s, COLELLA ET AL 3,412,886

SAFETY CLOSURES FOR CONTAINERS Filed Oct. 6, 1966 AY/ 12 \HIIIIEQ-i:

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United Smtes Patent 3,412,886 SAFETY CLOSURES FOR CONTAINERS Alfred S. Colella, 1310 S. Glendora Ave., West Covina, Calif. 91790, and Milton J. Grossman, Whittier, Calif.; said Grossman assignor to said Colella Filed Oct. 6, 1966, Ser. No. 584,850 3 Claims. (Cl. 2159) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A safety closure device having an inner closure cap for threadable attachment to a threaded part of a container and an outer closure cap disposed over the inner closure cap, each cap having a cylindrical skirt and an end wall at one end, the other end being open. The caps are axially pivoted together, the outer cap being normally rotatable on the inner cap and there is an opening in the end wall of the outer cap and a recess in the end wall of the inner cap. There is an axial stern on the end wall of the inner cap with a button at the free end of said stem for snap reception in an inner socket in an upstanding external boss of the end wall of the outer cap. A tool removably attachable to the caps has a pin for reception in the opening in the end wall of the outer cap and in the recess of the end wall of the inner cap when brought into register. The tool has a dome shaped part of reception of the boss of the outer cap.

This invention relates generally to closures for containers and relates more particularly to safety closures for containers for dangerous or deleterious substances such as poisons and the like.

While the invention has particular utility embodies in closures for screw top bottles dangerous or deleterious substances, and is shown and described thus embodied, it is to be understood that its utility is not confined thereto.

As is well known, there is always danger that-poisons may be inadvertently or unintentionally taken by adults and very often children get hold of bottles containing poisonous substances and swallow such substances. In either case serious illness or even death may result. Consequently the problem of preventing such inadvertent or unintentional taking of poisonous substances is a very serious one.

It is the purpose of the present invention to provide means for solving this problem and broadly the invention comprises closure member or inner cap for threadable attachment to a threaded part of a container, and a safety cover means or outer cap disposed over the closure member to protect it from inadvertent unscrewing from the container, the safety cover means is adapted to normally rotate on the closure member without unscrewing the closure member and thereby immediately indicate to or warn the user that the contents of the container is poisonous and dangerous. There is also an actuating tool means adapted for circumvention of the safety cover means for rotating the closure member.

It is a further purpose of the present invention toprovide means for solving this problem by providing a shield or safety cap for the usual or conventional screw cap for containers, such as screw cap bottles, that normally prevents unscrewing of the regular cap but by manipulating the safety cap in a particular manner and to a particular position a suitable actuating tool or instrument may be attached or connected with the regular cap for 3,412,886 Patented Nov. 26, 1968 unscrewing said regular cap so that access may be had to the container and for replacing said regular cap.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide safety means to normally prevent the regular cap of the container or bottle from being readily removed.

It is another object of the invention to provide means of this character wherein there is a safety cap which is disposed over the regular cap and which may normally turn or rotate without rotating or unscrewing the regular cap from the container or screwing same thereto.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a safety cap, which will be termed herein the outer cap, rotatably attached to the regular cap, which will be termed herein the inner cap. Normally the outer cap will freely rotate on the inner cap so that the latter cannot be removed from the container.

A further object of the invention is to provide an arrangement of this character wherein inner cap has a part or parts engageable by a tool or instrument, said part or parts of the inner cap being normally covered and protected by the outer cap but by manipulation of the latter said part or parts of the inner cap become exposed for engagement by a suitable actuator tool or instrument.

Another object of the invention is to provide closure means of this character wherein the parts of the inner cap engageable by an instrument comprise recesses or the like in a wall of the inner cap and the outer cap has openings therein which by rotation of said outer cap become aligned with said recesses. An instrument or tool is also provided having a pin or pins receivable in said openings in the outer cap and the recesses of the inner cap aligned therewith.

The invention also contemplates an arrangement wherein the inner cap has either holes or the like in the skirt adjacent the free end thereof or flattened parts which are normally covered by the skirt of the outer cap, the outer cap being movable longitudinally to expose said holes or flattened parts for engagement by a tool or instrument whereby the inner cap may be rotated.

Another object of the invention is to provide closure means wherein the regular closure is screwed into an open end of a container and has a flat outer end wall, the closure being screwed into the container to such position that the outer end wall thereof is at least substantially in the plane of the free end of the part of the container into which the closure is screwed, .and the removing or actuating tool has a suction cup for operable engagement with the outer flat end wall of the closure.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention are further sufficiently referred to in connection with the following detailed description of the accompanying drawings which represent certain embodiments. After considering these examples skilled persons will understand that many variations may be made without departing from the principles disclosed and I contemplate the employment of any structures, arrangements or modes of operation that are properly within the scope of the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a bottle having closure means of the present invention attached thereto and shown in longitudinal section;

FIG. 2 is a similar view of an alternative arrangement;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a container closure with an alternative type of safety cap attached thereto and shown in longitudinal section;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the safety cap shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view of another alternative arrangement;

FIG. 6 is a side view of a tool for use on the cap of the arrangement shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view of still another alternative arrangement;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing an alternative tool for use with the arrangement shown in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of a container with another alternative arrangement of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 the upper part of a bottle 10 with a neck 12 having external threads 14. There is an inner cap, indicated generally at 16, said cap comprising a cylindrical wall, skirt or skirt part 18 with internal threads 20 for threadable connection with the external threads of the neck, and an outer end wall or end wall part 22. There is an outwardly extending axial stem, indicated generally at 24, having a rounded outer end part 26 and a reduced diameter part 28 between said button and the outer side or surface of the end wall 22. Outer end wall 22 is relatively thick and is provided with a plurality of outwardly opening recesses 30, there being two recesses 30 at diametrically opposite sides of the stem 24 of the inner cap. It is to be understood, of course, that one such recess may be provided or there may be more than two.

Disposed on the inner cap 16 is an outer or safety cap, indicated generally at 36. This outer or safety cap comprises a cylindrical wall or skirt 38, somewhat longer than the skirt 18 of the inner cap and having an inside diameter slightly greater than the outside diameter of the inner cap, and an outer end wall having an upwardly extending boss 42 with an internal recess or socket 44 for reception of the button 26 of the inner cap. Socket 44 has an annular rib 46 at its open end received in the reduced diameter portion of the stem 24 and beneath the lower end or edge 48 of said button. The rib 46 is small enough to permit the button 26 to be pressed or forced into the socket but suflicient to extend beneath the lower edge of the button and prevent separation of the caps. Also, while there is a snug fit of the button in the socket the fit is loose enough to permit free rotation of the outer or safety cap on the inner cap. Thus the outer cap will freely rotate without causing the inner cap to rotate.

The end wall 40 of the outer or safety cap is provided with a pair of openings 50 therein arranged so that they can be brought into alignment or register with the recesses 30 in the end wa1l22 of the inner cap by rotating the outer cap. When the openings 50 are in register with the recesses 30 the caps may be connected together by a suitable instrument or tool, indicated generally at 52, said tool comprising a disc 54 with a pair of depending pins 56 arranged for reception in the holes 50 and recesses 30. The central part of the disc 54 comprises a hollow dome-shaped part 58 the interior of which is adapted to receive the boss 42 of the outer cap so that said tool or instrument will fit on the top of the outer cap with the pins 56 disposed in said holes and recesses.

When the parts are thus associated rotation of the outer cap will effect rotation of the inner cap so that the latter may be unscrewed from the neck 12 of the bottle when it is desired to open said bottle. The inner cap may be screwed onto the neck of the bottle when it is desired to close same and removal of the tool' or instrument 52 dis connects the caps. When the caps are thus disconnected the outer cap will freely rotate and any adult trying to open the bottle will become instantly aware of the fact that the bottle contains a poison or other dangerous material. A child, particularly a small child would b; unable to open the bottle and swallow material therein. By keeping the instrument 52 hidden from children it would be impossible for them to open the bottle. Even with a pin or the like it would be unlikely a small child at least would be able to open the bottle. Older children can be warned of the danger of poisons or the like in bottles having such freely rotating caps which prevent opening such bottles without a proper tool or instrument.

In the arrangement of FIG. 2 the inner cap is provided with an axial tapped bore 60 in its outer end wall 22a. The outer cap has a pair of oppositely arranged lugs 62 inturned from the free end of the skirt thereof which are long enough to engage the free end of the inner cap and prevent separation of the caps. The end wall 40a of the outer cap is provided with an axial opening 43 therethrough for reception of a screw 66 of a tool, indicated generally at 68. The tool 68 comprises a disc 70 carrying the screw 66 and a peripheral flange 72 extending longitudinally in the opposite direction from the screw. The flange 72 and disc 70 define a recess having an interior diameter such as to snugly and frictionally fit over the outer cap. When the parts are thus disposed the outer cap and tool 68 will freely rotate on the inner cap. When it is desired to open the bottle the tool 68 is pulled off the outer cap and the screw inserted into the opening 43 and screwed fully into the tapped bore 60 and into engagement with the bottom 22b of said bore 60. The threads of the screw 66 and the tapped bore are of such hand that when the tool 68 is rotated after the screw 66 engages said bottom 22b of the bore 60 the inner cap will be unscrewed from the neck of the bottle. When it is desired to replace the inner cap it is placed on the neck of the bottle and rotated by means of said tool 68. When the inner cap has been fully screwed onto the bottle further rotation of the tool 68 in the same direction will effect unscrewing of the screw 66 from the tapped bore 60.

The arrangement of FIGS. 3 and 4 are similar to the arrangement of FIG. 1 except that the upper side of the end wall 40 of the outer cap 36 is provided with a raised design simulating a wheel having a hub 78, spokes and a rim 82. The holes 50 in the outer end wall 40 of the outer cap are positioned between spokes so as not to be readily apparent. In other words the holes 50 are somewhat camouflaged or concealed to make it more difficult for children to find out how the safety closure arrangement works.

In this arrangement a suitable tool or instrument, not shown, similar to the tool 52 may be used or any suitable instrument that will fit into the holes in the outer end Wall 40 of the outer cap and the recesses 30 of the outer end wall of the inner cap.

In FIG. 5 there is shown an arrangement wherein the inner cap 16 has a pair of oppositely arranged holes 86 in the skirt adjacent the free end thereof. The outer end wall of the inner cap is provided with an axial upstanding stem 88 the lower end of which may be adhesively secured in a bore, not shown, provided therefor, and there is a head 90 at the free end of said stem. The outer cap is provided with a relatively thick outer end wall 93 and provided with a bore 92 open atits outer end and having at its lower end a wall 94 with a hole therethrough for slidable reception of the stem 88, the head 90 being slidable in the bore 92. Also the outer cap rotates on said stem and head.

Normally the skirt of the outer cap covers the holes 86 in the skirt of the inner cap. When it is desired to open the bottle the outer cap is raised to expose the holes 86 to permit hole engaging parts of a tool or instrument to be inserted into said holes.

A suitable tool or instrument for use with the arrangement of FIG. 5 is shown in FIG. 6 and is indicated generally at 98. The tool comprises a piece or length of resilient wire or rod of generally U-shape with the side arms thereof having oppositely extending free end portions 102 which are inturned, the free ends of said portions 102 being spaced apart. The tool may be arranged so that normally the free ends of the free end portions 102 are spaced apart a somewhat greater distance than the external diameter of the inner cap and when the holes 86 are exposed the free end portions 102 are aligned with the holes 86 and the side arms 106 of the tool pressed together to move said end portions 102 into said holes 86. The inner cap may then be unscrewed from or screwed onto the bottle by means of said tool.

To remove the tool from the inner cap it is only necessary to release the side arms 100 to permit their resiliency to return the parts of the device to their normal shape and position.

The tool may alternatively be arranged with the space between the ends of the end portions 102 less than the outside diameter of the inner cap. It is then necessary to spread the free ends of the arms 100 sufficiently so that the end portions 102 will enter said holes 86. To remove the tool the arms will again be spread so that the end portions 102 clear the holes 86.

In FIG. 7 the caps are similar to those in FIG. 5. However, the inner cap is provided with oppositely facing fiattened portions 110 at diametrically opposite sides for engagement by a clamping tool of suitable character when the outer cap is raised to expose said fiat portions 110, the clamping tool being used to turn the inner cap to unscrew same or to screw it onto the bottle.

The tool shown in FIG. 8 is for use on the inner cap of the arrangement shown in FIG. 7. This tool is similar to that shown in FIG. 6.

It is generally V-shaped and is formed of resilient wire or rod with side arms 109. Instead of the inturned free end portions of the tool of FIG. 6, the free end portions 111 extend forwardly and are adapted to engage the flat portions 110 of the inner cap.

In FIG. 9 there is shown an arrangement wherein the closure for the bottle comprises a plug type, as indicated at 116, said closure being externally threaded and screwed into the internally threaded neck or bottle part 118. When thus screwed into the part 118 the outer surface 120, which is fiat, is substantially flush with the outer end of said part. In other words the surface 120 is in substantially the same plane as the free end of the part 118.

The tool for removing the closure 116 or screwing same into the part 118 is indicated generally at 122 and broadly comprises a wall 124 having a suction cup 126 formed at one side. The tool 122 is of any suitable material such as resilient rubber, resilient plastic or the like. There is also a vent passage or opening 128 through the wall 124, said vent passage communicating with the interior of the suction cup. There is also an annular flange 130 extending longitudinally from the periphery of the wall 124 and in the same direction as the suction cup.

When it is desired to open the bottle or container the closure 116 may be unscrewed by placing the tool 122 over the part 118, pressing the suction cup down onto the surface 120 of the closure, and then placing a finger over the vent passage 128 to seal same so that the tool 122 is secured to the closure 116 by suction. The tool is then rotated to unscrew the closure. The closure may also be screwed into the part 118 by means of this tool.

Should it be desired, the container may be the same diameter at the opposite end as the part 118 and the recess defined by the flange 130 having an inside diameter such that it may be placed on said opposite end of the container and frictionally but removably held thereon.

The invention and its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof or sacrificing its material advantages, the arrangements hereinbefore described being merely by way of example, and I do not wish to be restricted to the specific form shown or uses mentioned except as defined in the accompanying claims.

We claim:

1. In a safety closure means for containers:

(a) a closure member for threadable attachment to a threaded part of a container;

(b) safety cover means disposed over said closure member to protect said closure member from being inadvertently unscrewed from a container to which it is attached, said safety cover means normally being rotatable relative to said closure member;

(0) The closure member comprising an inner cap and the safety cover means comprising an outer cap having an inside diameter somewhat greater than the outside diameter of the inner cap, each cap comprising a cylindrical skirt part, and an end wall part at one end of the skirt part, the other end of the cylindrical skirt part being open, the inner cap having internal threads for reception on the exterior threads of a part of a container, one of the parts of the inner cap having tool engagable means for engagement by an actuating tool;

(d) the tool engageable means comprising at least one recess in the end wall part of the inner cap, there being at least one opening in the end wall part of the outer cap adapted to be brought into alignment with the recess in the end wall of the inner cap by rotation of the outer cap relative to the inner cap;

(e) and an actuator tool including a body with at least one pin extending normally therefrom and adapted to be received in the opening in the end wall part of the outer cap and the aligned recess in the end wall part of the inner cap, the tool having a hollow dome-shaped part receiving an upwardly extending boss on the outer cap.

2. In a safety closure means for containers:

(a) an inner cap for threadable attachment to a threaded part of a container;

(b) a safety cover cap disposed over said inner cap;

(c) each cap comprising a cylindrical skirt part and an end wall at one end, the other end of the cylindrical skirt being open, the inside diameter of the skirt of the other cap being somewhat greater than the outside diameter of the skirt of the inner cap, the end wall of the inner cap having at least one outwardly opening recess therein, and the end wall of the outer cap having at least one opening therethr-ough;

(d) an outwardly extending axial stem on the end wall of the inner cap, said stern having a rounded button at the free end and a reduced diameter part between the button and the adjacent part of the end wall of the inner cap;

(e) the outer end wall of the outer cap having an internal socket for reception of the button;

(f) an annular rib at the open end of the socket for reception in the reduced diameter portion of the stem and beneath the lower end of said button;

(g) said rib being small enough to permit the button to be pressed into said socket'but sufiicient to extend beneath the lower side of the button and prevent separation of the caps, the outer cap being of somewhat greater inside diameter than the outside diameter of the inner cap and the fit of the button in the socket being loose enough to permit free rotation of the outer cap on the inner cap, rotation of the outer cap on the inner cap being adapted to bring the opening in the end wall of the outer cap into register with the recess in the end wall of the inner cap.

'3. The invention defined by claim 2, wherein there is an external boss on the end wall of the outer cap and the socket is located in said boss; and a tool for interconnecting said caps, said tool including a disc and at least one pin extending normally from said disc and adapted to enter said opening and said recess for rotating the inner 7 cap upon rotation of the outer cap, said tool having means for accommodating the external boss on the end Wall of the outer cap.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,359,639 10/1944 Hanahan 215-9 XR 2,921,705 1/1960 Dorsey 215-9 2,964,206 12/1960 Everett 215-9 Cohn 215-9 Glasbrenner 215-9 Dorsey 215-9 Hakim 215-9 Milbourne 215-9 Hirsch 215-9 DONALD F. NORTON, Primary Examiner. 

